Daniel Bryan&#65279;&#65279;&#65279; is a bona fide bad ass ... chasing down a burglar on foot, then locking him in a submission hold until cops arrived.

Daniel and his wife Brie Bella had just come home Thursday night when they saw 2 men on their way out of their house. The burglars dropped the stuff they were stealing and hightailed it down the street.

D.B. gave chase ... the bad guys had a big head start but the champ caught up with one of them and locked him in a rear naked choke for 5 minutes until cops arrived.

Daniel's feat is all the more impressive because the guy he caught is facing kidnapping charges in another case.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... Daniel's wife Brie retrieved the loot the guys were in the process of stealing, including a bracelet that belonged to the wrestler's recently deceased dad.

The second guy is still on the loose, but there's one less bad guy on the streets, thanks to D.B.

YES! YES! YES!

Here is a link to a news story about Daniel Bryan catching a burglar in
Phoenix.